On June 25, four members of the Missionaries of Charity in India -- best known as the organization formerly led by Mother Teresa -- were visiting AIDS patients in a hospital in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh when they were accosted by Hindu militants. As many as fifty members of Dharma Parirakshana Samithi accused the nuns of trying to convert the patients to Christianity. According to Asia News, Sister Maria Julia, Sister Chriselda, Sister Emma Felesia and Sister Reena Francis, were detained while their bags were searched for literature. Some militants in the crowd threatened to remove their distinctive blue and white saris and replace them with saffron-coloured clothes, a symbol of Hinduism. Some hospital managers, who were accompanied by militant BJP members, coerced the patients into accusing the nuns of attempting to convert them. Based on these testimonies, the four were taken to the local police station where they were charged. These charges were later dropped after intervention from the Archbishop of Hyderabad. An inquiry into the incident has been started.
Pray that there will be no further incidents involving the Missionaries of Charity. Pray that Christians in the area will be free to tell others of Christ. Pray that, even when there is limited freedom, they will continue to be faithful to give testimony to Him in their lives (Acts 4:19). Pray that those opposed to the gospel will be ineffective in their efforts to silence God's people.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, click here.
VOMC assists persecuted Christians with legal support and rehabilitation assistance, and cares for children of martyrs by providing them with a safe place to be nurtured physical and spiritually. VOMC also partners to equip Christians in India with Biblical training and works to strengthen and support marginalized and persecuted Christian women. Additionally, VOMC helps to provide medical assistance to believers who have faced injuries after being attacked.”
Ethnicity (%) Indo-Aryan (72), Dravidian (25), other (3)
Religion (%) Hinduism (79.8), Muslim (14.2), Christianity (2.3), Sikh (1.7), other (2)
Leader President Droupadi Murmu (2022)
Government type Federal parliamentary republic
Legal system Based on English common law; separate personal law codes apply to Christians, Hindus and Muslims.
Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for India
Despite the intimidation and violence that have taken place in many of India's states, may Christians wisely yet unashamedly preach the Gospel. Pray that indigenous Christians and foreign missionaries will minister in ways that do not hint at fraudulent conversions, unmasking the intentions behind the anti-conversion legislation. Intercede for India's leaders, that they may reign with justice and righteousness.
Amid escalating violence and discrimination against Christians in India, the need for greater awareness and advocacy has become increasingly urgent. On June 9th, a group called the National Christian Front organized peaceful demonstrations in the state of Odisha to protest against government policies that promote Hindu nationalism. Additionally, the protests drew attention to the many challenges facing religious minorities across the country.
Since 2022, Christians in the Nabarangpur district of Odisha have faced at least eight separate instances in which they have been denied the right to bury their loved ones. In many of these cases, opposing community members refused to allow the burial of deceased Christians in a cemetery used by Hindus, forcing the families to instead bury their loved ones in the forest or other locations.
Belongings removed from the homes of Christian families. Photo: CSW
Six Christian families from Karingundam, a village located in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh state, were evicted from their homes on April 12th for refusing to renounce their faith in Christ. Opposing villagers loaded their belongings onto a truck – only to be hauled out of the village and dumped. The desolate families were forced to spend the night in the forest without any shelter. At least 25 individuals were affected by this dire situation.
Graham Staines with sons Philip and Timothy. Photo: VOM USA
On January 23rd, 1999, Australian missionary Graham Staines, along with his two young sons Philip and Timothy, were burned to death by Hindu nationalist militants. Initially, authorities denied that the assailants had any connection to the Hindu nationalist group, Bajrang Dal, though such ties were later substantiated. While 14 men had been arrested in connection with the incident, 12 of the perpetrators were acquitted due to lack of evidence. The other two men, Mahendra Hembram and Dara Singh, were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
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